The business practices of John Park, the owner of nine
Athlete's Foot stores in "some of Chicago's roughest
neighborhoods," are profiled by Dan Morse in a front-page
feature in the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Morse writes that
Park's stores are "manned by one of America's more
astonishing sales forces: former, and in some cases current,
thugs, drug dealers and gang members." Park has become the
"hottest Athlete's Foot franchisee in the country: first in
store growth, second in total sales," with '98 revenue
hitting $7.9M. Park "estimates" that 90% of his sales staff
have criminal records, and "at times, he hires right out of
prison." Park said he doesn't allow his salespeople to work
the cash register (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/19).
HIGH ON HELIUM: In Boston, Greg Gatlin examined the
reaction at the Super Show to the helium technology
introduced by MA-based Converse in its $100 All-Star He:01
basketball shoe. Experts "call the idea unproven," but
S.F.-based Thomas Weisel Partners analyst Faye Landes said,
"I walked out of [Converse's] booth ... more positive than
when I walked in." Sporting Goods Intelligence's Bob McGee:
"It had some eye-popping appeal. If the technology works,
it could go a long way" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/18).
SHAQ'S SLAM DUNK OR MISS? In Chicago, Steve Rosenbloom
reports that Shaquille O'Neal is "starting his own line of
gym shoes" called "Dunk" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/19).
